The Battle of the Somme was launched on 1 July 1916 ... the German trenches had been placed under constant artillery bombardment. The aim was to destroy the trenches and defences.

Captain Stallibrass wrote in his logbook afterwards: 'At 7.30am the artillery ceased firing ... British soldiers were killed during the Battle of the Somme, which ran from July to November 1916 ...

Somme, one of World War ... which was created by an explosion at the start of the battle in La Boiselle, France, a rocket was fired to simulate the artillery fire. This was followed by whistles ...

Endless barrages of Russian artillery have destroyed homes ... the harrowing scenes at the Battle of the Somme, Mr Bell says. "Russia hardly looks like a country that's liberating Ukraine." ...